The Madras High Court has declared as illegal the act of University of Madras in having removed the name of an Academic Council member from the final list of candidates whose nominations to contest to the Syndicate had been accepted. The court has criticised the varsity heavily after finding mala fide intention behind the removal.
Justice N. Seshasayee wrote he was “amazed with the audacious stand” taken by the university to justify its action. The orders were passed while allowing a writ petition filed by M. Uma, principal of Prince Shri Venkateshwara Arts and Science College at Gowrivakkam in Chennai against the removal of her name from the final list.
Senior counsel Krishna Ravindran, representing the writ petitioner, told the court the university had come out with a notification on August 8, 2022 for elections to its Syndicate. As per Section 18(3) of the Madras University Act, 1923, five members of the Academic Council were eligible to contest to be a part of the Syndicate.
